PUBLICATION

Gene module reconstruction identifies cellular differentiation processes and the regulatory logic of specialized secretion in zebrafish

Authors
Wang, Y., Liu, J., Du, L.Y., Wyss, J.L., Farrell, J.A., Schier, A.F.
ID
ZDB-PUB-241127-25
Date
2024
Source
Developmental Cell : (Journal)
Registered Authors
Farrell, Jeffrey, Schier, Alexander
Keywords
UPR, bhlha15, creb3l, differentiation processes, functional gene module, hatching gland, notochord, regulatory logic, secretion, xbp1
Datasets
GEO:GSE252032
MeSH Terms
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental*
  • Notochord/metabolism
  • Gene Regulatory Networks
  • Animals
  • Transcription Factors/genetics
  • Transcription Factors/metabolism
  • Cell Differentiation*/genetics
  • Zebrafish*/genetics
  • Zebrafish*/metabolism
  • Zebrafish Proteins*/genetics
  • Zebrafish Proteins*/metabolism
  • Unfolded Protein Response*/genetics
PubMed
39591963 Full text @ Dev. Cell
Abstract
During differentiation, cells become structurally and functionally specialized, but comprehensive views of the underlying remodeling processes are elusive. Here, we leverage single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) developmental trajectories to reconstruct differentiation using two secretory tissues as models-the zebrafish notochord and hatching gland. First, we integrated expression and functional similarities to identify gene modules, revealing dozens of modules representing known and newly associated differentiation processes and their dynamics. Second, we focused on the unfolded protein response (UPR) transducer module to study how general versus cell-type-specific secretory functions are regulated. Profiling loss- and gain-of-function embryos identified that the UPR transcription factors creb3l1, creb3l2, and xbp1 are master regulators of a general secretion program. creb3l1/creb3l2 additionally activate an extracellular matrix secretion program, while xbp1 partners with bhlha15 to activate a gland-like secretion program. Our study presents module identification via multi-source integration for reconstructing differentiation (MIMIR) and illustrates how transcription factors confer general and specialized cellular functions.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping